THAT'S DEBATABLE: Afghanistan
The Washington Post this week obtained Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s confidential report to the White House, in which he gravely assessed the war effort in Afghanistan. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, recommended that the U.S. send more troops there. Otherwise, he warned, the American military mission “will likely result in failure.” Were the Obama administration to endorse McChrystal’s recommendation and authorize a deployment of additional troops, would you vote in favor should this make its way to the House? Alternatively, how would you vote if the administration called instead for withdrawing or scaling back U.S. forces in Afghanistan from the current level?
I, along with many Americans, have some serious questions that must be answered regarding the situation in Afghanistan. First and foremost, the administration must clearly outline America’s strategy, its chances of success, and the role of our allies in Afghanistan.
I do, however, believe that a precipitous withdrawal would be unwise and prove to further destabilize the region. The efforts currently being undertaken in Afghanistan are under the auspices of international cooperation, but, thus far, the burden has been carried by just a few countries.
I have long said that Afghanistan will be a much tougher problem than Iraq. Our coalition partners must be willing to shoulder more of the burden and bring more to the table. Only then, with a clearly defined strategy and assurances from our coalition allies, will I be able to consider voting in favor of a troop increase.
U.S. Rep. John Campbell (R-Newport Beach)
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